Coated system and method for its manufacture and its use

ABSTRACT

A coating system and a method for its manufacture are provided. An electrically conductive base coat and a porous overcoat lying over the base coat are arranged on a ceramic substrate. At least one additional deposited layer is arranged on the base coat in such a way that the additional layer is formed in the pores of the porous overcoat adjacent to the base coat. The additional layer is deposited either by currentless or electrolytic deposition. For electrolytic deposition of the additional layer, the ceramic substrate sintered with the base coat and the overcoat is submerged in an electrolytic bath and the base coat is connected as a cathode. The currentless deposition takes place from a solution of the metal to be deposited with the addition of a reducing agent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coating system, and a method for themanufacture and use of the coating system

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Conventional coating systems can be found, for example, inelectrochemical oxygen sensors in which a ceramic body produced from asolid electrolyte is provided with at least one electrode exposed to agas to be analyzed, and a porous overcoat covering the electrode. Theelectrode is made up of a catalytically active material such as platinumwhich is capable of adjusting the equilibrium setting of the gas to beanalyzed on the electrode surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,425 describes a sensor in which an additionalcatalytic material, rhodium, is introduced into the pores of the porousovercoat by impregnation and subsequent calcination. The rhodiumprecipitates onto the pore walls of the entire overcoat in the form ofultra-fine particles so that no specific coating thickness can be set inthe porous overcoat.

A method for the currentless deposition of metals onto metallic surfacesand the monitoring of these processes is described in British Patent No.2 198 750. However, this method does not make the specific applicationof a metallic coating onto an electrode surface through a porousprotective coating possible.

SUMMARY

An advantage of the coating system according to the present invention isthat one or more additional layers having a defined layer thickness areformed on an electrically conductive base coat. Another advantage isthat the additional layer or layers arranged immediately adjacent to theelectrically conductive base coat does not or do not completely fill upthe pores of the porous overcoat. This preserves the protective effectof the porous overcoat as well as an adequate gas transfer through theovercoat. The method according to the present invention makes itpossible to deposit the additional layers onto the base coat through theporous overcoat after the ceramic body has already been sintered. As aresult, materials can be used for the additional layers that otherwisewould not stand up to the high sintering temperature.

The subsequent electrolytic or currentless deposition of at least onelayer on the base coat makes it possible to modify the functionalproperties of the base coat. This is particularly advantageous for themodification of the functional properties of an electrode in gas sensorswith regard to their specific gas selectivity and/or control layer.

A particularly marked influence of the materials of the base coat andthe additional layer on each other is achieved by a thermalaftertreatment of the coating system after the additional layer has beendeposited. For example, a temperature range of 1200° C.±100° C. hasproven to be favorable for an Au/Pt coating system. At this temperature,the metal atoms of the additional layer diffuse into the metal of theadjacent base coat. Such a mixing phase of the materials is necessary,for example, for electrodes of gas sensors intended to respond to aspecific gas species. For example, in order to form an HC-selective orNO_(x)-selective sensor, the electrode of a gas sensor can be modifiedin such a way that the electrode then has a special affinity forhydrocarbons or nitrogen oxides. It is further possible to adjust thecatalytic properties and the thermal properties of the gas sensor by theselection of the material for the additional layer. Moreover, thecontrol layer of the sensor can be influenced by the selection of thematerial and/or the thickness of the deposited layer.

An advantage of an currentless deposition of an additional layer onto abase coat in relation to electrolytic deposition is that onlyelectrically contacted compartments of the base coat are coated inelectrolytic deposition whereas all the particles on the surface of thebase coat are coated in currentless deposition. This is advantageoussince parts of the base coat that are electrically insulated at roomtemperature can definitely be contacted at the very high operatingtemperatures of a gas sensor via the solid electrolyte substrate whichis then conductive. Thus, when the coating system is used as a measuringelectrode and these parts are not coated, they have an unfavorableinfluence on the resulting sensor signal.

A further advantage is that a cermet layer is used as the electricallyconductive base coat, the cermet layer forming a solid connection withthe ceramic substrate during sintering of the ceramic body due to theceramic component of the cermet layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sectional representation of a first exemplary embodimentof a coating system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of a second exemplary embodimentof the coating system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a system to implement the method according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows another system to implement the method according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The coating system of the present invention has, for example, the layerstructure shown in FIG. 1 or 2. According to the coating system in FIG.1, an electrically conductive base coat 13 made up of a Pt-cermet andhaving an electrical terminal contact 35 is arranged on a ceramicsubstrate 11 made up of a solid electrolyte such as ZrO₂. A porousovercoat 15 is arranged on base coat 13. Adjacent to base coat 13, anadditional layer 21 is formed on the base coat in the pores of overcoat15. Layer 21 is thus in direct contact with base coat 13.

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a coating system. In thiscase, layer 21 is formed in the pores of overcoat 15 over base coat 13and a second layer 22 is formed over layer 21 and a third layer 23 isformed over layer 22. Layer 21 is of gold, layer 22 of rhodium oriridium and layer 23 is of nickel or chromium. This embodiment showsthat even a complex, multilayer coating structure can be implemented ina simple manner. As a mixed potential electrode, such a coating systemis used in mixed potential sensors. Mixed potential electrodes areelectrodes which are not able or not completely able to catalyze theequilibrium setting of a gas mixture on their surface. If a mixedpotential electrode is connected together with a reference electrode ofplatinum, such an arrangement then forms a mixed potential sensor. Anappropriate selection of material for additional layer 21 makes itpossible to set the selectivity of the resulting electrode specificallyfor one gas species and/or to specifically modify the control layer ofthe sensor. Thus, for example, the low temperature characteristics of anoxygen sensor can be improved by a rhodium layer on a Pt electrode. Witha layer structure shown in FIG. 2 and via an appropriate selection ofmaterials for layers 21, 22, 23, it is also possible to specificallymodify the catalytic properties of the electrode surface in addition tosetting the selectivity.

To manufacture the coating system according to FIG. 1, ceramic substrate11 provided with electrically conductive base coat 13 and porousovercoat 15 is sintered at a temperature of 1400° C. However, it is alsopossible to apply overcoat 15 to base coat 13 only after sintering. Notonly ZrO₂, but also Al₂O₃ is suitable as ceramic substrate 11.

In the present exemplary embodiments, ceramic substrate 11 is providedwith a layer 21 according to FIG. 1 and with more than one layer 21, 22,23 according to FIG. 2, layer 21 or layers 21, 22, 23 being formed inthe pores of porous overcoat 15 in superimposed strata. Two examples ofhow the layers 21, 22, 23 can be formed are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4.

A first example is to produce additional layers 21, 22, 23 byelectrolytic deposition. A structure based on this method is shown inFIG. 3.

For this purpose, ceramic substrate 11 is placed into an electrolyticbath 31; base coat 13 is electrically contacted at terminal contact 35and connected as cathode 37. An electrode made of a metal correspondingto the metal of the particular layer 21, 22, 23 to be deposited is usedas anode 33 (electrolytic process with sacrificial anode). Water-solublesalts of the metals in question, such as HAuCl₄, IrCl₃×H₂O or RhCl₃×H₂O,serve as the electrolyte.

In order to manufacture a sensor to detect hydrocarbons, a coatingsystem according to FIG. 1 is selected, a gold layer beingelectrolytically deposited as additional layer 21 onto base coat 13 ofPt-cermet. For this purpose, the sintered ceramic body of the sensor isplaced into electrolytic bath 31 with an HAuCl₄ electrolyte and a goldanode is used as anode 33. At a current intensity of 0.5 to 2 mA and acurrent duration of 15 to 50 minutes, layer 21 of gold is deposited ontothe Pt-cermet base coat 13 at a layer thickness of 1-5 μm. Layer 21 isformed in the pores of overcoat 15. After deposition of layer 21, theceramic body is subjected to a tempering at a temperature of 1200° C.During the tempering, an alloy forms between the platinum of base coat13 and the gold of layer 21, the alloy being namely a platinum-rich goldphase and a gold-rich platinum phase. As a result, the catalyticactivity of the platinum of base coat 13 is modified and a mixedpotential electrode is formed.

Depending on the area of application, electrolytically produced layer 21may be made from a noble metal (such as gold, rhodium, iridium), asemi-noble metal (such as palladium, silver), a base metal (such ascopper, bismuth, nickel, chromium) or a mixture of these metals.

A coating system according to FIG. 2 may also be producedelectrolytically, the corresponding anode materials and/or thecorresponding electrolytic baths being used successively in theelectrolytic deposition.

Additional layers 21, 22, 23 may also be produced by currentlessdeposition. An apparatus based on this method is shown in FIG. 4. Forthis purpose, ceramic substrate 11 with base coat 13 and porousprotective coating 15 is submerged in a metallic salt solution or in asolution of a suitable metal complex 32 of the metal to be deposited.After the addition of a chemical reducing agent 39 via a metering device38, the corresponding metal is deposited with a time delay depending onthe nature of the solution. In the process, the added reducing agentproduces nascent hydrogen in a first step on the surface of metallicbase coat 13, the nascent hydrogen for its part being capable ofreducing the metallic salts or metal complexes contained in the solutionto elementary metal which then precipitates. An advantage of a directparticipation of the electrode surface in the deposition process canprimarily be seen in the fact that the metal precipitates in directcontact with base coat 13 and not in the pores of the entire porousprotective coating 15.

In order to manufacture a mixed potential sensor, a coating systemaccording to FIG. 1 is used, an additional layer 21 of gold beingdeposited by currentless deposition on base coat 13 made from a platinumcermet. For this purpose, a ceramic substrate of ZrO₂, to which basecoat 13 of a platinum cermet is applied and which is covered by a porousprotective coating 15, is submerged in a solution 32 of 5 g HAuCl₄, in250 ml water and 50 ml of a 37% formaldehyde solution is added viametering device 38. The solution is heated to 60 to 80° C. with the aidof a heating unit (not shown). The progress of the gold deposition canbe readily followed via the discoloration of metallic salt solution 32.After deposition is completed, ceramic substrate 11 is removed from themetallic salt solution and a rinsing and drying treatment takes place.If the coating system is subsequently tempered at a temperature of 1200°C., an alloy is formed between the platinum of base coat 13 and thedeposited gold of layer 21. Owing to the lack of catalytic activity, theresulting coating system is suitable as a mixed potential electrode of amixed potential sensor.

Au, Ni, Co, Cu, Ag, Sn or W may be used as additional metals that areparticularly suited for currentless deposition. Primarily aldehydes suchas formaldehyde, hydrazine and alcohols are suitable as reducing agent39.

In order to achieve a complete penetration of porous protective coating15 with the corresponding metallic salt solution or metal complexsolution as rapidly as possible, a vacuum may be applied to thedeposition apparatus during deposition or the apparatus may be subjectedto ultrasound treatment.

The deposition rate is controlled primarily via the temperature and thepH of the solution. The deposition process is followed by a rinsingand/or drying process. The resulting coating system may, as alreadydescribed, be subjected to a heat treatment.

The present invention is not limited to the described exemplaryembodiments, but rather additional combinations and coating systemsbeyond the coating systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described arepossible in which a metallic layer in a porous layer are deposited on anelectrically conductive and/or metallic base coat.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for manufacturing a coated system,comprising: providing a ceramic substrate; applying an electricallyconductive base coat to the ceramic substrate; applying a porousovercoat to the base coat; and depositing at least one additional layerthrough pores of the overcoat onto the base coat; wherein the at leastone additional layer deposits in a plurality of pores of the porousovercoat, the plurality of pores being adjacent to the electricallyconductive base coat, and the at least one additional layer has adefined thickness, the defined thickness being less than a thickness ofthe porous overcoat.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein thedepositing step includes the step of electrolytically depositing the atleast one additional layer through the pores of the overcoat onto thebase coat.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising thestep of: introducing the ceramic substrate with the base coat and theovercoat into an electrolytic bath; connecting the base coat as acathode using terminal contacts, the terminal contacts being provided onthe ceramic substrate; and using the at least one additional layer as aanode.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the depositing stepincludes the step of depositing the at least one additional layerthrough the pores of the overcoat onto the base coat by currentlessdeposition.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising thesteps of: introducing the ceramic substrate with the base coat and theovercoat into a solution of i) metals to be deposited to form the atleast one additional layer, and ii) a chemical reducing agent.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, further comprising the step of: controllinga rate of the deposition via at least one of i) a pH of the solution,and ii) a temperature of the solution.
 7. The method according to claim5, wherein the reducing agent is at least one from the group ofaldehydes and formaldehyde.
 8. The method according to claim 5, whereinthe reducing agent is one of hydrazine and alcohol.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the depositing step includes the step ofdepositing at least one metal from the group of Au, Ni, Co, Cu, Ag, Snand W as the at least one additional layer.
 10. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising the step of: applying at least one ofultrasound and a vacuum during deposition to accelerate a completepenetration of the porous protective coating covering the base coat. 11.The method according to claims 1, further comprising the step of: afterthe depositing step, performing at least one of a rinsing process and adrying process.
 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingthe step of: after the depositing step, subjecting the coating system toa heat treatment.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein atemperature of the heat treatment is below a sintering temperature ofthe ceramic substrate, the heat treatment forming an alloy of metals ofthe base coat and of the at least one additional layer.
 14. The methodof claim 1, wherein the at least one additional layer lies with a firstside adjacent to the electrically conductive base coat and a second sideadjacent to the porous overcoat, the second side being an opposite sideto the first side.